Bulletin - March/ April
2009
Folk, Ethnic & World Music
Malicorne
->
Various
Artists
| FRANCE |
MALICORNE |
Griffe 191272 |
Almanach |
$17.98 |
13 tracks, 49 mins, essential
Available again on a new label and at a lower price. The French band
Malicorne was possibly the best traditionally oriented folk-rock band ever
and this 1976 recording was their best. It consists of a series of 12
traditional songs, one for each month of the year, most of them with a
magical theme. The singing led by Gabriel Yacoub and his powerful
distinctive baritone is complemented by his wife Marie's fragile soprano and
when the rest of the group join in on the vocal harmonies the effect is
spine chilling. The instrumental work is spellbinding using acoustic and
electric instruments and weaving them together in a complex interplay of
sounds to create powerful and tremendously beautiful music. All this comes
over with crystal clarity on this CD. On Les Tristes Noces when the
electric bass comes in to join Gabriel and Marie's unaccompanied vocals the
sound reverberated through my spine! This album is one of the greatest folk
albums of the 70s and quite deservedly won "Grand Prix" from the Academie Du
Disque Francais. The beautiful cover illustration by Laurent Lesserre
prepares you for the treasures within and the 12 page booklet has notes on
all the songs by Gabriel (in French) and all the lyrics. An all time
classic! (FS)
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| AFRICA-NIGERIA |
CHIDINMA OKAFOR |
Arc Music 2186 |
Modern Gospel From West Africa |
$14.98 |
10 tracks, 54 mins, highly recommended
Gorgeous collection of gospel music featuring one of Nigeria's most popular
vocalists accompanied vocally by a six member group who provide spellbinding
harmonies that bring to mind the gospel music of South Africa. They are
accompanied by a band with lovely skittering guitar sounds, kora, keyboards
and more. Includes booklet with notes on the artist and songs in English,
German, French and Spanish. Lovely stuff.
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| AFRICA-MALI |
TINARIWEN |
World Village 468067 |
Aman Iman: Water Is Life |
$19.98 |
12 tracks, 54 mins, highly recommended
Recorded in 2006 and released in 2007, this third album by Mali group
Tinariwen has a mesmerizing pull to it that is evident from the first track.
The traditional music of the Touareg people shows strong similarities to
Algerian and Moroccan music in rhythmic structure, and there is a melodic
sensibility that is European in manner. Joyous is a word that comes to mind
when listening to this music, but there's also hints of moodiness too around
the edges. Western listeners used to blues and gospel can certainly relate
to this music, even if one can't understand the words. The guitar playing
alone is worth the price of admission. (GMC)
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| AFRICA-NIGERIA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Savannahphone AF 10 |
Awon Ojise Olorun: Popular Music In
Yorubaland 1931-52 |
$13.98 |
19 tracks, 54 mins, highly recommended
As a sort of companion to Delta Dandies (Savannahphone 011), Awon Ojise
Olorun covers more music from early to mid-20th century Nigeria, this time
focusing on the Yoruba people. Taken from the British Library, these
recordings--made at the beginnings of the Nigerian recording
industry--sample the sakara music of Yoruba Muslims, the guitarists of
Lagos, and show us the origins of apala percussion groups. But more
importantly, these recordings also paint a picture-through the translated
lyrics-of the musical life of the Yoruba, while living under British rule.
(GMC)
|
| AFRICA-NIGERIA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Savannahphone AF 11 |
Delta Dandies: Dance Bands In Nigeria,
1936-1941 |
$13.98 |
16 tracks, 46 mins, highly recommended
Highlife, a popular style of guitar and horn-based dance music, had its
roots in the Nigerian dance band music of the 30's and 40's. This
compilation attempts to collect songs that were influential to the later
highlife bands. The orchestras recorded here often used mandolins, along
with guitars, and substituted other instruments-such as fifes and
percussion-for brass instruments, which were often hard to come by. In some
ways, this makes the dance music sound a lot like British skiffle,
particularly with the use of homemade instruments, and it has the same kind
of unaffected charm that's characteristic of its British cousin. Anyone
familiar with highlife, should find this CD of special interest; and even if
you've never heard of highlife, this album is yet another priceless look
into music history. (GMC)
|
| JAMAICA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
VP Records 4100 |
Randy's 50th Aniversary |
$25.98 |
2 CD, 1 DVD, 50 tracks, essential
"Randy" was the nickname of Vincent Chin, founder of Randy's Record shop and
VP Records, who became a pioneer in the world of ska and reggae music. This
set chronicles his story through liner notes and 50 tracks that formed the
backbone of Chin's empire. The first disc covers the early to mid-60's,
while the second highlight's tracks recorded at Chin's studio, located
upstairs over the record store. Among the artists touched by Chin are Alton
Ellis, The Maytals, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Augustus Pablo, Dennis Brown,
Gregory Isaacs, Big Youth, and I-Roy. The DVD features artist interviews,
rare footage, photos, and more. A truly landmark collection. (GMC)
CHARLIE ACE & DIRTY HARRY: Country Boy/ THE AFRICAN
BROTHERS: Hold Tight/ ROLAND ALPHONSO & JOANNE GORDON: Blow Roland Blow/
ALTON & EDDIE: Let Me Dream/ HORACE ANDY: Don't Go/ BIG YOUTH: Knotty No
Jester/ BLACK UHURU: Going to Zion/ BABA BROOKS: Portrait of My Love/ DELROY
BYFIELD: Yagga Yagga/ JUNIOR BYLES: King of Babylon/ CORNELL CAMPBELL: Make
Hay/ DONOVAN CARLESS: Be Thankful/ Be Thankful/ CHARLIE ORGANAIRE: Royal
Charlie/ COUNT MACHUKI: Warfare/ DON DRUMMOND: Machine Shop/ ERROL DUNKLEY:
Created by the Father/ ALTON ELLIS: Mouth a Massy/ Too Late to Turn Back
Now/ HORTENSE ELLIS: Woman of the Ghetto/ ALTON ELLIS & JOHN HOLT: Rum
Bumpers/ THE ETHIOPIANS: True Man/ NORMA FRASER & LORD CREATOR: We Will Be
Lovers/ BASIL GABBIDON: Goodbye Pretty Darling/ THE GAYLADS: Wha She Do Now/
THE GLADIATORS: Race/ THE HEPTONES: My Guiding Star/ JOHN HOLT & THE
HEPTONES: For the Love of You/ THE IMPACT ALL-STARS: End Dust/ Ordinary
Version 3/ GREGORY ISAACS: Lonely Soldier/ J-ROY: Hospital Trolley/ HUBERT
LEE: Something on Your Mind/ JIMMY LONDON: Little Love/ LORD CREATOR: Don't
Stay out Late/ Independent Jamaica/ Such Is Life/ CARL MALCOLM: Fattie Bum
Bum/ No Jestering/ BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS: Sugar Sugar/ THE MAYTALS: John
& James/ AUGUSTUS PABLO: Java/ LLOYD PARKS: Ordinary Man/ KEITH POPPIN:
Righteous Man/ RICO RODRIQUEZ: Rico Special/ ROY & PAULETTE: Since You're
Gone/ SENYA: Children of the Ghetto/ THE SKATALITES: Malcolm X/ STRANGER &
KEN: Home Home Home/ PETER TOSH: You Can't Fool Me Again
|
| EUROPE-MISCELLANEOUS |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Wergo 1626 |
Patchwork Europe - Early Recordings |
$24.98 |
26 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended
This collection presents a diverse selection of traditional European folk
music from different countries-ranging from Ireland to Norway to Portugal to
Russia-recorded between the years 1911 and 1954. Celtic reels from Scotland,
Fado music from Portugal, Hardanger fiddle music from Norway, and Flamenco
singing from Spain are just a few of the sounds to be sampled here. Once
again, the Weltmusik Wergo label from Germany has given us unique insight
into Old World music history. (GMC)
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